The article talks about what receptors are, what they serve for a person, and, in particular, the topic of receptor antagonists is considered.
Biology
Life on our planet has existed for almost 4 billion years. During this incomprehensible period for human perception, many biological species have changed on it, and this process will probably continue forever. But if we consider any biological organism from a scientific point of view, then its structure, coherence and, in general, the very fact of existence are amazing, and this applies to even the simplest species. And there is nothing to say about the human body! Any area of his biology is unique and interesting in its own way.
In this article, we will consider what receptors are, why they are needed and what they are. We will try to understand this in as much detail as possible.
Action
According to the data of the encyclopedia, a receptor is a combination of the endings of nerve fibers in some neurons, which differ in sensitivity, and specific formations of the intercellular substance and special cells of living tissues. Together they are engaged in the fact that they transform the influence of factors of various kinds, which are often referred to asstimuli, into a special nerve impulse. Now we know what a receptor is.
Some types of human receptors perceive information and influence through special cells of epithelial origin. In addition, modified nerve cells also take part in the processing of information about stimuli, but their difference is that they cannot generate nerve impulses by themselves, but only act on the innervating endings. For example, this is how taste buds work (they are located in the epithelium on the surface of the tongue). Their action is based on chemoreceptors, which are responsible for the perception and processing of exposure to chemical or volatile substances.
Now we know what taste buds are and how they work.
Destination
To put it simply, receptors are responsible for the functioning of almost all sense organs. And in addition to the most obvious ones, such as sight or hearing, they enable a person to feel other phenomena: pressure, temperature, humidity, and so on. So we have sorted out the question of what receptors are. But let's take a closer look at them.
Stimuli that activate certain receptors can be very different effects and actions, for example, deformation of a mechanical property (wounds and cuts), aggression of chemicals, and even an electric or magnetic field! True, which receptors are responsible for the perception of the latter, has not yet been precisely established. It is only known that there are definitely such people, but they are developed differently for everyone.
Views
They are divided into types according to their location in the body and the stimulus, thanks to which we receive signals to the nerve endings. Let us consider in more detail the classification of receptors according to an adequate stimulus:
- Chemoreceptors - responsible for taste and smell, their work is based on the effects of volatile and other chemicals.
- Osmoreceptors - are involved in determining changes in the osmotic fluid, i.e., an increase or decrease in osmotic pressure (this is something like a balance between extracellular and intracellular fluids).
- Mechanoreceptors - receive signals based on physical impact.
- Photoreceptors - thanks to them, our eyes receive the visible spectrum of light.
- Thermoreceptors - responsible for the perception of temperature.
- Pain receptors.
What are receptor antagonists?
To put it simply, these are substances that can bind to receptors, but do not change the course of their work. And the agonist, on the contrary, not only binds, but also actively influences the receptor. For example, the latter include some drugs used for anesthesia. They desensitize the receptor. If they are called partial, then their action is incomplete.
